Department of Botany and Plant Pathology 2082 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-2902 Phone:541-737-3451 Fax: 541-737-3573 http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp

FROM THE DEPARTMENTAL CHAIRPERSON FROM THE DEPARTMENTAL CHAIRPERSON Welcome to the 18th edition of Posies and Pathogens! In this, our annual newsletter, we try to keep you informed of the goings on in the Department. Of course, in a Department with the size and breadth of ours, staying informed can be a challenge!

Welcome to the 18

Our faculty and graduate teaching assistants continue to participate in several educational programs (such as the Molecular and Cellular Biology program, Entomology program, and Biology program) in additional to maintaining our own undergraduate and graduate majors.

Our faculty and graduate teaching assistants continue to participate in several educational programs (such as the Molecular and Cellular Biology program, Entomology program, and Biology program) in additional to maintaining our own undergraduate and graduate majors.

Our research programs continue to span the spectrum from molecule to organism to field, and include plant biology, ecology, systematics, and pathology. Our field sites are found throughout the state and the globe and include croplands, forests, grasslands, and oceans. Climate change, disease, small RNAs, conservation, biogeochemical cycles, and development are all topics you might expect to hear discussed in seminars, classes, and in the hallway. Our graduate students are integral players in these world-

Our research programs continue to span the spectrum from molecule to organism to field, and include plant biology, ecology, systematics, and pathology. Our field sites are found throughout the state and the globe and include croplands, forests, grasslands, and oceans. Climate change, disease, small RNAs, conservation, biogeochemical cycles, and development are all topics you might expect to hear discussed in seminars, classes, and in the hallway. Our graduate students are integral players in these world-

class research projects and our undergraduates also have the opportunity to participate. Last year, I reported that our research effort continued to grow and that we routinely set new records in terms of research expenditures. Last year, we also celebrated another high point. Botany and Plant Pathology had the highest amount of new grants and contracts of any department on campus…any! And we are doing well again this year.

class research projects and our undergraduates also have the opportunity to participate. Last year, I reported that our research effort continued to grow and that we routinely set new records in terms of research expenditures. Last year, we also celebrated another high point. Botany and Plant Pathology had the highest amount of new grants and contracts of any department on campus…any! And we are doing well again this year.

There have been many changes in personnel over the past year, and many of these are chronicled inside these pages. We welcomed new faculty, staff and students, saw many undergraduate and graduate students earn degrees, and said goodbye to some colleagues…sadly, some for the last time.

There have been many changes in personnel over the past year, and many of these are chronicled inside these pages. We welcomed new faculty, staff and students, saw many undergraduate and graduate students earn degrees, and said goodbye to some colleagues…sadly, some for the last time.

We always look forward to hearing from former students and colleagues, as well as from friends of the Department. If you find yourself in town or on campus, please stop by and say Hi.

We always look forward to hearing from former students and colleagues, as well as from friends of the Department. If you find yourself in town or on campus, please stop by and say Hi. Dan Arp Dan Arp Professor and Chairperson Professor and Chairperson arpd@science.oregonstate.edu

th edition of Posies and Pathogens! In this, our annual newsletter, we try to keep you informed of the goings on in the Department. Of course, in a Department with the size and breadth of ours, staying informed can be a challenge!

arpd@science.oregonstate.edu

Eighteenth Edition April 2007

WELCOME NEW FACULTY Erica Bakker joined the Department of Horticulture in June 2006 and has recently joined the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology as adjunct faculty. She was one of the Computational and Genome Biology Initiative hires for the Center of Genome Research and Biocomputing. Her PhD work (Wageningen University, The Netherlands) was in population genetics of oaks. In her postdoctoral work (University of Chicago) she worked on genome-wide analyses of polymorphism patterns and R gene evolution in Arabidopsis thaliana. At OSU she plans to work on R gene evolution in related crops making use of Arabidopsis genomic resources. She also plans to work on understanding how plants adapt to different environments using genomics tools. Erica is joined by her husband, who works at SAIF in Salem, and their 4 month old son.

Todd Mockler came to OSU in July 2006 to be part of the Computational and Genome Biology Initiative. Following a PhD from UCLA and a post-doc at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, CA, his working on three different projects. The first is to understand the mechanisms of how a genome responds to environmental factors, suas temperature and time of day. The second project is to underhow RNA-binding proteins regulate aspects of RNA processing sualternative splicing, a process that imparts flexibility to genes; osequence can be combined differently to produce different proteins. The third focus is on Brachypodium, a grass species that will servea genome research model for the related major cereal grain speciesuch as wheat, barley, oats, maize, rice, rye, sorghum and millet as well as potential biofuel crops.

e

ch stand

ch as ne gene

as s

hysiology,

tanding

variables.

December 2006, James Young joined the department as an Extension ollege of

ion

ing

op.

Allen Milligan joined the department in August 2006 as Research Assistant Professor working in the application of cellular-scale molecular and biochemical studies of microalgae, bacteria and corals to environmental questions about ecosystem function and global change. Mechanistic-level knowledge of the oceanic ecosystem gives oceanographers the ability to predict and hind-cast responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbance. His research focuses on algal pmacronutrient and trace metal metabolism and the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis. This work is directed towards understhe physiological mechanisms by which the cycling of elements are influenced by environmental

InEntomologist & Instructor. James received his BS from SUNY CEnvironmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse NY and his PhD from the University of Georgia. He is currently being kept busy running the Insect Identification Clinic, curating the Extension Entomology Collectand reorganizing the Entomology Teaching Collection with Christopher Marshall of the Zoology Department. This year James will be co-teach“Introduction to IPM” with Sujaya Rao and has proposed two new courses: “Pests of the Farm, Field and Garden” and “Arthropods Important to Veterinary Medicine”. Additionally, he will be teaching “General Entomology” at the University of Oregon this summer. Jameswill be at the 2007 Oregon Master Gardner Association Mini-College where he will be giving a talk and running an Insect Collecting Worksh

FACULTY NEWS

ichael Behrenfeld’s research group continues to be active

his

du/ocean.productivity/

Min studies on marine phytoplankton and their interactions with climate. One of our on-going activities is the generation and distribution of global ocean primary production (i.e., photosynthesis) data using NASA satellite images. Teffort is led by Robert O’Malley and the fruits of his laborcan be viewed at our website: http://web.science.oregonstate.e .

AA

del

nding

is

in

avid Gent was awarded an OECD-funded fellowship to support travel

r. later

effrey Stone has been reappointed a member of the Invasive Species

c

ments,

oyce Loper is the new Editor–in-Chief of Phytopathology News. Teresa Sweat, who has just completed

arilyn Miller has been working part-time with Melodie Putnam in the Plant Clinic on a bacterial problem since 2002 (5 years post-retirement) and for Valerian Dolja, micropropagating grapes. In 2006,

Julie Arrington has also been very busy this past year preparing for and conducting field measurements on NOships in the tropical Pacific ocean. These efforts are part of aNASA project aimed at linking field data to satellite data and ocean circulation-ecosystem models. Toby Westberry, a post-doctoral associate in the group, has finished two excellent papers this past year, one describing a new mothat allows phytoplankton growth rates and biomass to be derived from satellite measurements and another that usessatellite data to map the global distribution of Trichodesmiumphytoplankton species in the open ocean. Giorgio Dall’Olmo and Kim Halsey are two new post-doctoral associates in the group this year. Giorgio has a background in aquatic optics and is now studying primary processes involved in plant acclimations to light, while Kim is working on understathe importance of alternative electron transport pathways in photosynthesis. Dr. Behrenfeld continues to be very involved in the NASA ocean biology and biogeochemistry satellite program and is the principal investigator in the development of a new hyperspectral satellite mission. Publications from the group thyear included two articles in Nature magazine, one describing the nutrient stressors on phytoplankton growth in the tropical Pacific ocean and based on newly discovered fluorescence diagnostics of iron stress and the other paper reporting how global ocean productivity has changed over the past decadedirect response to climate variability.

, one of the most important nitrogen-fixing

Dand research at the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania, to develop international collaboration with DSarah Pethybridge. He will spend two months in Dr. Pethybridge's lab this year. JAdvisory Committee of the National Invasive Species Council. This committee is comprisede, conservation,

agricultural communities, state and tribal governand industry organizations that are affected by invasive species. Appointments to the committee are made by Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior. Dr. Stone studies the mycology, ecology and evolutionary biology of fungal parasites of conifers. His research program is investigating the ecology, epidemiology and biology of Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, the organism that causesSwiss needle cast disease of Douglas-fir, as well as issues relating to the sudden oak death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum.

of 30 representatives of scien

Jher PhD (in the MCB program) with Tom Wolpert, will be joining Joyce’s lab in April. M

3

she traveled to Naples, Italy to visit the laboratory of Dr. Aida Raio at the University of Naples, whoworked on her PhD at OSU, visited Dr. Danny Vereecke at the University of Ghent, in Belgium, met with researchers at UC, Davis to discuss grape propagation and attended the APS meeting in Quebec inwhere she presented a poster. She is enjoying her retirement adventures! Jennifer Kraus is a Research Associate in Melodie Putnam's laboratory, a

July

nd is a Biological Research echnician in Bob Martin's group. Jennifer has experience with diverse bacteria, including

s for

ntinues to provide an essential service to Oregon growers, with expertise highly alued both Oregon-wide and nationally. In 2006, 2,264 samples were received and diagnosed by

ome

s

s e

s

h gh

rowers related to the Plant

icroscopes and ancillary equipment, Al Soeldner and Michael Nesson have been keeping the port

and he

hich is cused on "historical sleuthing" -- trying to learn as much as possible about pre-European fire regimes

s being

l

Tcyanobacteria, rhizobia, pseudomonads, and lactococci, and also has experience with bacteriophage andplant viruses. In Melodie’s lab, she and Marilyn Miller have developed molecular diagnosticRhodococcus fascians, an interesting gram-positive bacterium that causes leafy galls on herbaceous perennials. Jennifer and Eva Sandberg (Microbiology Undergraduate and Plant Clinic Undergraduate student) are now examining 16S rDNA sequence diversity among R. fascians isolates. In Bob Martin'slab, Jennifer has characterized emerging viruses of ornamentals, and Raspberry Bushy Dwarf Virus isolates from new hosts. Results were presented at APS 2006 in Quebec City, and will be presented at APS 2007 in San Diego. The OSU Plant Clinic covMelodie Putnam and Kelly Collins. Samples for soil and water pathogen testing, and bacterial identification were received at the beginning of the year, while plant samples dominated from Marchonwards, peaking in July and August. The majority of samples were received from growers and hgardeners. Just under half of the samples originated from outside Oregon, and of the Oregon samplemost came from Clackamas, Marion, Benton and Multnomah counties. Most of the soil, water and bacterial testing samples were associated with ornamentals and together with the woody and herbaceouornamental samples, these accounted for 72% of the total samples received, confirming yet again thimportance of the Plant Clinic to the ornamentals industry. Melodie Putnam, Marilyn Miller and Jennifer Kraus continued their research on the greenhouse epidemiology of the bacterial pathogen Rhodococcufascians on ornamentals, enabling specific recommendations to help greenhouse growers reduce the risk of infection. With Jennifer Kraus, three new viruses of Verbena x hybrida have been described which adversely affect their production as bedding plants. The Plant Clinic took part in the USDA National Soybean Rust Monitoring program with sentinel plots organized by Cindy Ocamb and established witcooperators in 6 different Oregon counties; weekly data was monitored and mapped from June throuSeptember. Sue Jepson has continued to expand the Plant Clinic website (http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp/Plant_Clinic/index.htm) with images of actual samples linked toplant disease diagnoses, fact sheets for select diseases, and resources for gClinic research program in bacterial diseases of herbaceous perennials. James Young was appointed as Insect Diagnostician in December 2006. Gene Newcomb continues as a highly valued volunteer. Despite numerous mechanical and electrical problems in the now significantly ageing electron mElectron Microscope Facility operating and generally meeting the research and research supmicroscopy requests that continue to come in from the large and diverse population of OSU facultystudents who require EM services. A group of OSU faculty has been exploring options for replacing tFacility's microscopes and a visit to an instrument vendor's applications facility is scheduled in the near future to acquaint members of the group with the capabilities of today's transmission and scanning electron microscopy tools. Tool replacement will be very expensive but is becoming necessary for the University to remain competitive in the micro and nano research and development fields. Pat Muir is starting research on a new project, funded by the Joint Fire Science Program, wfoand vegetation conditions in nonconiferous plant communities of SW Oregon. The work will be conducted in cooperation with Dr. Paul Hosten of the Medford District, BLM, and BPP graduate student Olivia Duren. The project is intended to ascertain whether the large scale fuel reduction projectcarried out in chaparral and oak woodlands in the Medford area are likely to accomplish ecosystem restoration as well as reduction in fuels. It will also give us the first insight into age structures of chaparracommunities, which have received little study in Oregon.

4

Another year, and another issue (53rd) of the PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook edited by Jay Pscheidt and Cynthia Ocamb (628 pages!) has been published. Jay’s work continues on Eastern filbert blight which is found throughout the Willamette Valley. There have been 5 different surveys for this disease over the years and last year they were linked together with animated maps. (Surveys by Gottwald, Cameron, Pinkerton, Johnson, Theiling, Griesbach, Pscheidt and Penhallegon.) These animated maps show the progress of this disease through the main hazelnut production areas from 1958 to 2005. A survey map shows the location of infected orchards or nursery stock as they were actually discovered while a biology map shows the same information but modified to disease jump into a new area several

years before it was found in that area. You can find the maps at the following web site: when it is thought infection occurred. It is interesting to watch the

location/map1.htmhttp://oregonstate.edu/dept/botany/epp/EFB/You may need to download the newest version of "flash player" and then restart your browser to get the

ennifer Parke was the student-selected speaker for spring term at the Department of Plant Pathology,

thora

he McEvoy lab continues research on the ecology and biological control of plant invasions. We are

a ith

ar.

!

he Priscilla Bullitt Collins Trust (Northwest Conservation Fund, The e

sues in

ly

a

arding

specific studies.

animation to work correctly. JUC Davis where she presented a seminar on colonization of tanoak sapwood by the sudden oak death pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. Jennifer has a joint appointment in Botany and Plant Pathology and Crop and Soil Science. She is the advisor for two M.S. students in Botany and Plant Pathology, Brad Collins and Sunny Lucas, who are working on Phytophthora ramorum, and she co-advises Ph.D. student Naoyuki Ochiai (Soil Science) on a soil physics project involving the distribution of Phytophzoospores and cysts in porous media. Tpleased to welcome two newcomers. Dr. Joe Dauer from Penn State University will be developing mathematical models for understanding, predicting, and managing plant invasions using ragwort as model system. Dr. Russell Messing from the University of Hawaii will be spending a sabbatical year wus, analyzing a century-long record of introducing natural-enemy species for biological pest-control in Hawaii. Evrim Karacetin and Don Campanella will be defending their PhD theses sometime next yePeter McEvoy continues to balance teaching in Insect Ecology and Plant Ecology with research centered primarily on two invasive species ( purple loosestrife and tansy ragwort), punctuated by professional travel to distant locations (most recently to northern India for a joint Indo-USA workshop on invasions)Next stop: teaching at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa in September!

TNature Conservancy) awarded a 5-year $500,000 grant to a multi-statand Canadian team of scientists and land managers, including three investigators from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology: Deborah Clark, Tom Kaye, and Mark Wilson to address critical isprairie restoration. Our lab, which is involved in preservation of biodiversity through restoration of native habitats, has just finished the 2nd year of a 5-year grant to investigate restoration of native northwest prairies, particularly the control of invasive species. Invasive plants, especialnon-native perennial grasses, pose one of the most critical threats to protected native prairies in the Willamette Valley/Puget Trough/GeorgiStraits ecoregion. These prairies are among the most endangered ca, and support many imperiled species. Our current knowledge reg

the effectiveness of techniques for controlling many herbaceous invasives, especially in sites that retain a significant component of native vegetation, is largely anecdotal or based on results from only a few site-

ecosystems in the North Ameri

5

Currently, our research group has gathered pre-treatment field data and one year after treatment data on plant diversity and abundance, along with

bs at North Carolina State 2006. Terri is serving as Graduate Dean and Bill is a Professor in the

ORMER CHAIRPERSON es, another year has flown by---it is April again, too soon it seems! I must admit that the pictures in my

ws is that I will soon move one more time within the 138 Strand

ents, off-campus es

f request it. We are hopeful that higher education will

n at San Diego and is now in the Peace Corps. She is posted to

l a

measurements of soil health and function through collaboration with USDA-ARS. One important component of the project is the assessment of field responses of plants to management treatments using functional groups andkey plant traits, thereby allowing generalization of findings across a wide range of sites and conditions. Our lab here at OSU has nearly completed measuring standardized plant traits for 60+ native and non-native species, which will be included in a database of plant traits for Willamette Valley species developed by Mark Wilson. Rachael Roberts, a graduate student with Deborah Clark and Mark Wilson, took the lead on making the plant traitmeasurements and has nearly completed her related thesis project, in whichshe is investigating the response of different seed mixes of composed of different functional groups in restoration of native prairies. She is also exploring how well plant traits can be used to generalize the field performance of these seed mixes. Wendy Phillips, environmental sciences graduate student of Deborah Clark, is beginning a Ph.D. project in which she plans to investigate the role of mycorrhizae in the restoration of native prairies, particularly the rare species. Bill Winner and Terri Lomax, long time members of the faculty, took joUniversity effective October 1,Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources.

Calochortus tolmei, native of upland prairie, and nectar source for Fender’s blue

butterfly

FROM A FYoffice are still not on the wall. The good neoffice complex and I will have more wall space, more windows, and more places for books (that would begood news for Dan Arp); one of my pictures is already on the wall awaiting my arrival.

We have made some changes within the Deans’ office in regards to how we are handling oversight for the units and the two associate deans now share oversight for all the academic departmbranch stations and various other programs within the College of Agricultural Sciences. My “half” includthe branch stations located in Newport, Astoria, Portland, Aurora, Hood River, Hermiston and Madras/Powell Butte. The departments include Agricultural and Resource Economics, Botany and Plant Pathology, Fisheries and Wildlife, Food Science and Technology, Microbiology, Statistics, and Chemistry. Add to that a variety of programs, centers, and institutes and you can get an idea of all the new things I am learning - and how busy I remain.

The university is awaiting the outcome of the biennial legislative process and until that is finished; a lot otime will be spent providing information to those who be more fortunate than two years ago and that the states relatively healthy economy will benefit our students but easing their tuition burden. I did manage to engage in a bit of science this past year and enjoyed the opportunity to present a seminar on climate change impacts on plant pathogens at the University of Washington in February.

On to the family news that you have grown to expect. Our youngest, Martha, graduated with a B.S. iPhysics from the University of CaliforniaTsintsabis, Namibia where she is teaching math, chemistry and physics to 8-10 graders in a small ruraschool in northeastern Namibia at the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Needless to say, this has been quite learning experience for us all and whenever I’m tempted to be bothered by something small, I think of Martha needing to “hitch hike” (a somewhat organized process) about 85 kilometers from the village she lives in to get her groceries each week. Running out of petrol or having a mechanical break down is not news there. The other big change for us is that our grandchildren moved to Corvallis in late August (bringing their parents with them) and now live just one door over from us---it has been great to share their rapidly developing years (Moira, 4 ½ and James, 2) and is a great motivation to leave Strand Hall abit earlier than I might otherwise.

6

Over the last year, I’ve enjoyed visits with many of you as I’ve traveled around the country or you have had a chance to come to campus. I look forward to more exchanges over the year ahead. Please let me

u

say from one of the last remaining ‘old timers’? I've seen many changes and crazy times years and this year was one for the record; welcomed new faculty members, said some

e is definitely a keeper -- didn't take long for us all to be wrapped around her

son

he OSU Nematode Testing Service continues to provide an inexorable sequence of thrills. The 1246 samples processed in 2006 did not come close to totaling the 2002

ls

e

know if you are coming to campus: stella.coakley@oregonstate.edu or 541-737-5264. I’d love to see yoand I still know my way to Cordley Hall! Have a great year!

by Stella Melugin Coakley

STAFF NEWS Wow, what can I

ver the past 36+ogood byes and shed tears for others. Changes in the classified staff were unreal. In April Edith Birky accepted a promotion with Human Resources; in September April Dring decided to become a full-time OSU student; and in November Misty Labahn joined Forest Resources as their Office Manager. We were fortunate to fill those positions with some great additions. Katie Remiyac joined us in October to handle personal services. Katie had been working at the Children’s Farm Home. She received her BS in psychology from OSU and was glad to get back to the OSU community. Kathy Minta arrived in mid-November with her husband, Steve. Kathy worked for Jefferson County Public Health in Port Townsend, WA. She had previously worked at UC Santa Cruz and was ready to get back to a university setting. Kathy manages travels, student payroll and is our receptionist. Barbie Gee joined us in December to handle grants and contracts. She previously worked in the College of Engineering. In mid-June, Jenni Heinen joined the Plant Clinic as the Office Specialist. Jenni filled the position that had been vacant forover two years! Truthfully, there were times during this past year, I didn't know if I was coming or going. However, with Itsue Pfund keeping us in the money and with Blaine Baker spending it, I knew things would balance eventually. Speaking of Itsue, she is back working full time and thinking of the day Rian will finish at Gustavus Adolphus College and Cara starting college in a couple of years, (plus keeping hubby Fred, working at Starker Forests). Blaine has been spending personal dollars as well as departmental, he just finished having a beautiful home built on his and Carolyn’s property southwest of Philomath. All in all this has been quite the year, I especially applaud the faculty for their patience and support through the year(s). A couple of personal changes for me – our son Nick and his wife Kim made me a Grandma in July and ’m lovin' every minute. KayleI

little finger! In October, my husband Lloyd decided he had had enough millwork and retired. Believe methese two changes have given me special reasons to take extra time off. However, in case, you're wondering -- retirement isn't in my scope quite yet, as I still have more changes to see and probably cause more troubles in BPP. Take care and smiles to all!!!

by Dianne Simp

AS THE WORM TURNS

T

record of 1547, but because those 1547 just about killed me, I washappy with 1246. Species identifications increased: 41% of samples in 2006, compared to 26-27% in 2003 and 2004, were identified to species as well as genus. Knowing the species of a plant-parasitic nematode population permits comparison with triaor records of particular nematode species on particular crop plantsand thus more judicious use of treatments. Doesn't that sound great? It was, until I started looking really closely at some of our common "species." What we've always considered one species of lesion nematode may actually consist of two or even three real ns to my victims at USDA in Beltsville, MD, for molecular species. I've sent preliminary specim

7

exploration, which should lead to conclusive species identification. I use so much time determining species identities, however, that there's no time to prepare any more specimens to send to USDA. I'm working on this illogicality.

Punctuating the root-knot and lesion nematode routine are the occasional glamour gen

Uh ...

era. It's always

and

d a

al

me. These growers and consultants

'd all be

sting Service web site

by Kathy Merrifield

REGON FLORA PROJECT

roject is to be a comprehensive resource on the vascular plants of

r

nice to see ring or sheath nematodes, because they're so beautifully spectacular, or to come across dagger or needle nematodes, because they're so large and unmistakable. Spiral nematodes are big fat enough so that their internal structures are actually visible, so they're fun to key out. Pacific Northwest crops host several spiral species. Bursapehelenchus xylophilus dauerlarvae plucked from dissected bark beetle larvae and then cultured on the postharvest Botrytis from my lunchtime raspberries providepleasant summer interlude. The ne plus ultra of 2006, though, was Subanguina recovered from golf-green Poa roots. Following the leadership of the client who submitted them, I was treated to a personview of the hook-shaped root galls diagnostic for Subanguina.

Speaking of clients, I'm grateful for them entrusting their samples to are the driving force behind increasing knowledge about plant-parasitic nematodes in the Pacific northwest. Without their experience, observation, and willingness to invest in new information, wejust counting the same old worms and treating them in the same old way.

And speaking of new information, please check the new OSU Nematode Tecomposed by Sue Jepson: http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/bpp/Nematodes/index.htm

And as the sand drifts through the hourglass .... the worm still turns.

OThe mission of the Oregon Flora POregon. Our team of three staff members, several student workers and volunteers is working hard to gather information and to share it with the public. In spring 2007 we released an updated version of oupopular online Oregon Plant Atlas (www.oregonflora.org/oregonplantatlas.html) that increased the number of mappable records by more than 20%! This program lets users create plant distribution mand access details about each plant occurrence. We also will celebrate a milestone in early summer withthe release of the Vascular Plant Checklist. The Checklist represents many years of exacting work studying the plants of our state to determine the appropriate nomenclature for each of the 4,500+ taalso tracks synonyms (alternative scientific names) assigned to plants and will serve as a cross-referenceto other identification manuals until the new Flora of Oregon is completed.

Later this year, we are introducing an exciting new initiative to launch the pr

aps

xa. It

oduction of the book which is

d digital

on Flora Project is proud to count volunteers—both with and without botanical expertise—as an

ur offices are across from the Herbarium), contact us (P.O. Box 402,

our namesake—the new Flora of Oregon. This campaign will underwrite a plant systematist and necessary support to guide the writing of the Flora and to oversee its publication in both paper anformat.

The Oreginvaluable part of our program. Indeed, without our volunteers and financial supporters, we would have achieved only a fraction of our current progress! Our annual fundraising drives provide almost half of ouroperating budget, and volunteers have shared their skills and knowledge over thousands of hours. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Oregon Flora Project team through contributions or volunteering, call Linda at (541) 737-4338.

We welcome you to stop by (oCorvallis, OR 97339-0402), or visit our website (www.oregonflora.org). The Oregon Flora Project wolike to share with you our enthusiasm for Oregon’s plants!

uld

by Linda Hardison, Coordinator

8

IN MEMORIUM

illiam ‘Bill’ Chilcote

William ‘Bill’ Chilcote died

a, to

Marjorie

M in

ating with a Bachelor of Science in

stry

nt

as

e he

g and teaching

tal

mp

urvived by his wife, Marjorie, son Mark

Times 11/14/2006)

ill Chilcote and Oregon Plant Ecology

in

pt a

toward the community level early in his career;

gy in fall and spring, a gy,

. r lecture

e

e

shrub-steppe coast.

new PhD’s and the campaign to have

mphasis

for n

W

November 13, 2006 athis home, he was 88.

He was born in Washington, IowFrank and Ethel Chilcote.

He marriedOsenbrug on June 9, 1946. The two were married 60 years andark and John Chilcote,

Corvallis.

After gradu

raised their two sons,

forestry and serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, he returned to Iowa State University and began his career as an instructor in foreand earned a Ph.D. in plant physiology from Iowa State University in 1950. He received a professorship in plant ecology in the Departmeof Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University in 1950 where he taught until retirement in 1982. In 1956 Bill received the Carter Award for Outstanding Teaching. Bill wgiven a Fulbright Scholarship as a visiting professor in Helsinki, Finland in 1957, wherand his family lived for a year.

Bill’s lifelong vocation of studyinplant ecology was also his avocation, and his favorite expression was to look at the “big picture.” He was a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and other environmenorganizations. He rediscovered banjo playing after retirement and was a member of the Northwest Banjo Band and Oregon Trail CaBand.

Bill is sand wife Vica of Beaverton; son John Chilcote and brother David O. Chilcote of Corvallis; threegranddaughters; one great-grandson; two nieces and two nephews.

(Corvallis Gazette

B

Bill Chilcote was the sole terrestrial plant ecologist in the College of Science when Iarrived in 1968. He came from Iowa State 1950, with a new PhD in plant physiology (working with crested wheatgrass), to acceposition as an ecologist. His emphasis shifted

always, he was anxious for students to get the “big picture”!

Bill taught six courses each year until 1969: undergraduate plant ecolothree-term sequence in advanced plant ecoloand plant geography. He continued to teach four of them until retirement. Before the 1970’s, there were few specialized courses in ecology, and class sizes were large, with students from throughout basic and applied biology.

Bill emphasized field experience for his classesUndergraduates were scheduled for 2 hand 4 hr lab each week, including trips to McDonald Forest and Marys Peak. In addition, there were two full-day field trips, one to thcoast, emphasizing sand dunes, and the other across the Cascades into central Oregon. Ththird term of advanced plant ecology was a fieldmethods course, which evolved into primarily field trips, including one-day marathons into the

Bill’s career included the post-World War II boom in

east of Bend and to the north

ead, May 1979. The student in the foreground seems tohave the idea, at least tentatively.

Bill Chilcote showing students the big picture, Cascade H

professionals in applied life sciences add a doctorate to their resume’; some of his early graduate students were veterans with substantial work experience. His career also extended well into the post-Earth Day eon ecology; later students were younger and fewer chose topics in applied ecology. In addition to serving as a major professor for at least 37 students, Bill was a favorite choiceother graduate program committees, serving ohundreds.

9

Bill’s graduate students worked on topics from physiological ecology to regional community pa

s -

f

s with him and the student

im.

he

own

ark Patterson

is with great sadness that we must share the r friend and colleague Dr. October 19, 2006 of

teaching mission. Mark was extremely

th for

01

ad ist;

e

,

is

tterns, centered in western Oregon, but ranging from Alaska to southern California and east to Utah. Major emphases included vegetation and fire patterns on the east slope ofthe Cascades (at least 5 students), vegetation and succession on Marys Peak (7), and all vegetation types along the Oregon coast (10).

Bill published six journal articles and a Forest Research Lab Research Paper, and many of histudents’ theses were published without his coauthorship. But Bill’s contribution to plant ecology was primarily through his students, both in class and through graduate student research.Bill invested in his students; his office was often occupied by one or more in discussion with him, he spent time in the field with his advisees, and his field trips were based on a thorough examination of the route beforehand. Bill also left a field trip legacy, including his help to me when I arrived. That summer, I taught an ecology-for-teachers class, and Bill spent days with me in the valley, on Marys Peak, on the coast, and across the Cascades, Bill describing what he knew about the vegetation and history of the stops we made, and me furiously taking notes. Those notes were the basis of my trips for several years, and I carried them as a kind osecurity blanket for some time after that. Even 35 years later, Bill would have recognized most of my trips.

Working with Bill was a delight, and I fondly remember tripgatherings he and Marj hosted. I particularlyadmired Bill’s rapport with students, his willingness to spend time with them, and his ability to have them want to spend time with h

I have described Bill’s professional life, but certainly not all that he was—the laughter he evoked and joined in so easily, the self-deprecating humor, Bill as cornerstone of the highly attended twice-daily coffee break, and tman who so enjoyed the “anti-senility kit” his sons gave him when he turned 50. When he retired, Bill truly left the department and seldom returned, giving his time to family concerns, travel, and a re-acquaintance with his banjo.

I wish all you younger readers could have knBill.

by Don Zobel, Emeritus Professor

M

Itpassing of our deaMark Patterson oncomplications due to multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer.

Mark joined the Department in 1996 and almost immediately became an essential member of our

committed to the department, always willing to teach yet another course if the need arose. The diversity of courses he participated in bothe Biology Program and BPP over the past 10 years was truly amazing and include: BI 488/588 (Environmental Physiology of Plants), BI 306 (Environmental Ecology), BI 370 (General Ecology and a Distance Education component), BI 211 and BI 212 (Principles of Biology), BI 1(General Biology); BOT 416/516 (Aquatic Botany), BOT 341 (Plant Ecology), and BOT 101(Botany: A Human Concern). Mark was an exceptional educator. His special talents provided an active environment that challenged students to excel in the subject matter. He ha way about him that students couldn’t resthey had no choice but to engage in the learning process. I had the pleasure to observe Mark in the classroom perhaps more than most over thpast 10 years. No matter how many times I sat in on one of his classes I always found myself smiling as I looked around the room and saw all the fresh young faces completely absorbed in his lecture. This big, burly man, with a boomingvoice easily commanded the attention of a 500 seat auditorium. As he walked around the roomhe would stop for a moment, bend over and directly interact with one individual and then move on to the next student. Mark excelled in the art of providing a positive and stimulatinglearning environment for the students. His excitement and enthusiasm for the biological sciences was recognized and appreciated by h

10

students; it was contagious. Mark was nominated, by his students, many times for theLoyd Carter Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (College of Scand was the recipient of this award in 2006.

Mark studied aspects of the ecophysiology of lichens, locally in Oregon as well as in Southeast Asia. He involved multiple

ience)

fire

alley and

en

n

e .

LA he met Virginia

rk

rn in llis in

ring

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uffetti

NDERGRADUATE STUDENT NEWS

received a B.S. in Botany in 2006:

a Moore

ongratulations to our Honor Roll Students Spring and/or Fall terms 2006, and/or Winter 2007:

tein

undergraduates and one Masters student in hisresearch program. He was interested intolerance in lichens in the Willamette Vperformed experiments measuring recovery of photosynthetic performance in a variety of lichspecies after heating in the laboratory. In addition, he examined the combined effects of relative humidity and temperature on both photosynthetic performance and rehydratiorespiration. Mark traveled to Southeast Asia three times during his time at OSU, where hcollaborated with Dr. Kansri Boonpragob fromRamkhamhaeng University in Bankok, and DrPhil Rundel from UCLA. They performed workboth in Thailand, in Khao Yai National Park andin Cambodia. They were interested in differential photosynthetic performance of lichens as a function of their location in the tree canopy of diptocarp forests.

Mark earned his BS in Botany from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona and his PhD from UCLA. While at UC

Weis, a fellow graduate student in biology. Maand Virginia were married in 1992. In 1993 they moved to Aptos, CA and Mark began a postdoctoral fellowship at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View. Their daughter Elizabeth and son Will were bonearby Santa Cruz. They moved to Corva1996 when both Mark and Virginia began positions at OSU. Virginia is a member of the Zoology Department. Mark was a devoted husband to Virginia and a loving father to Elizabeth and Will. He served as the primary caregiver to the children after school and duthe summer and instilled in them a love of nature, photography, and spectator sports.

We miss Mark’s wonderful smile, his warm hugs,his booming voice, and our discussion with hon pedagogy. The Department has establisthe Mark Patterson Teaching Award. Donations can be made payable to the OSU Foundation: InMemory of Mark Patterson. Checks can be mailed to the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, 2082 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331.

by Lynda Ci

U Congratulations to the following students who Emma Bradford John Helgesson LyndJane Fery Sara Hamilton

Brian Lewis Alicia Leytem

Anthony Shireman Amanda Wood

C Emma Bradford Elaine Daggett Alicia Leytem Therese Biboux Mitchel Corbet Morgan Curtis

Kathleen Farrell Rachelle Gomez Hansel Hallman

Nancy Pierce Zakariah Weins

11

GRADUATE STUDENT NEWS

GSA) elected several officers to serve in the role of organizing ctivities and raising funds for student travel grants. Ann Willyard continued as GSA Treasurer, and

t)

e

the

Ann Willyard. Graduate student fund raising (t-shirt

l

series. at 3:30 pm

k at the annual meeting of the

t’s ns

at

d thering

Ta

he Graduate Student Association (

Dominic Maze (Marketing Director), Don Campanella (Vice-President) and Ryan Kepler (Presidenwere elected to GSA office for the 2006-2007 academic year. We started fall term the right way by organizing a potluck barbeque at Avery Park, and the big shebang was well-attended by everyone in thdepartment and their families. There were plenty of leftovers for the hungry graduate students who stayed late, and then the students reconvened at the coast for a weekend of frolic and fun. We rented a beach house near Depoe Bay that had a glorious view of the ocean and the historic Ben Jones Bridge. During the day people went crabbing, mushroom hunting and bicycling, and at night there was more potlucking, hot-tubbing and card-playing. The barbeque and the coast weekend were not only a lot of funbut the events provided an important opportunity for our new students to get to know everyone else indepartment, and we would like to thank Dan Arp and the rest of the department for helping to provide us with the means to have these social events.

GSA continued its Travel Grant program in 2006 with $200 awards to each of four students: Don Campanella, Kristin Skinner, John Syring, and sales, volunteer work, and an auction) provide most of the income for this important program, supplemented by earnings on the GSA endowment fund. In 2006, a silent auction was held at the annuadepartmental gala. Thanks to generous donations from Kathy Merrifield, the Zobel’s, Patricia Muir, Cynthia Ocamb, Gene Newcomb, and Don Campanella (and many generous bidders!) we earned over $250 at this fun event. In 2007, GSA is planning a fund-raising booth for plant sales at the annual Corvallis Spring Garden Festival and accepting applications for travel grants starting in April.

Graduate students also have been hosting coffee breaks before the department’s weekly seminar The coffee breaks are open to everyone and they are held in the department conference roomThursday before the seminar at 4:00 pm. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to bring snacks, brew coffee and hobnob for a few minutes. The weekly gathering has helped to boost attendance at seminars and it provides a nice social break during the busy week.

Many of our graduate students have received awards and presented their research at scientific conferences this year. Heather Lintz (McCune lab) presented a talEcological Society of America held in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently she was bestowed the E.C. Pielou Award by the Statistical Ecology Section of ESA “based on overall quality of the studenscientific contribution to statistical ecology, as evidenced by his or her oral presentation”. Congratulatioto Heather for this prestigious honor! Jessi Brunson (Pyke lab) also contributed an oral presentation ESA-Memphis entitled “Yield responses of invasive grasses to sucrose doses” which conveyed results from her research on restoration techniques in the sagebrush steppe ecosystem that has been invaded by exotic weeds. Upekala Wijayratne (Pyke lab) was granted a Diversity Advancement Pipeline Fellowship that provides one year of stipend support to "advance inclusiveness in graduate education anprepare students with career objectives of university teaching and research”, an award which is furher research on big sagebrush seed dormancy rates and factors of seedling establishment.. Don Campanella (Mundt and McEvoy labs) attended ESA-Memphis and also the annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society held in Québec, Canada, and at each meeting he presented a poster entitled “Species associations and the severity of damage caused by multiple organisms introduced for biological control of Chondrilla juncea (Asteraceae).” Don was a recipient of the Larry Moore Award for Graduate Education in Plant Pathology and a GSA travel grant. Ann Willyard (Cronn and Liston labs) presented a talk entitled “What can we learn from a nuclear gene phylogeny of Pinus subgenus Pinus”? at the Evolution 2006 conference in Stony Brook, New York and a talk entitled “What can we learn froma multi-locus nuclear phylogeny of the “hard” pines (Pinus subgenus Pinus, Pinaceae)?” at the Botany 2006 meeting in Chico, California. Ann was also awarded the Oregon Sports Lottery Graduate Scholarship and the Anita Summers Travel Grant. John Syring (Cronn and Liston labs) presented hisresearch entitled “Widespread genealogical nonmonophyly in species of Pinus subgenus Strobus” at the Botany 2006 meeting in Chico, California. John completed his doctoral work in 2006 and accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Plant Systematics at Montana State University, Billings. Amy Peetz (Mahafee lab) attended the Pacific regional meeting of the American Phytopathological Society in Boise, Idaho, where she presented her work on method development for pathogen detection and quantification in a talk entitled "Hop powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis) in the Pacific Northwest". Sunny Lucas

12

(Parke lab) attended the Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium III in Santa Rosa, California, where shepresented a poster "Development of Phytophthora ramorum

ve will be electing another cohort of GSA officers and awarding travel grants to

ith

g

s

Martin) haracterization, epidemiology and ecology of a

cline.

xamination of the role host-selective toxins

tt Hansen) usceptibility of golden chinquapin (Chrysolepis

) ystematics of the genus Torrubiella.

haracteristics of soil organic matter in two

(PhD with Aaron Liston) hylogenetics and genomic patterns of

on

Keith Perchemlides (MS with Pat Muir) Impacts

f fuel reduction thinning treatments on oak and

erformance of Willamette Valley native plants

cCune) ommunity gradients of arctic macrolichens in

with David Pyke) Hydromulch ckifier and sucrose effects on microbial

pecificity of quantitatively expressed host la.

WARDS AND PROMOTIONS

Faculty

Dr. Joseph Spatafora was promoted to Profess

fessor (Courtesy).

ssistant.

Undergraduate Teaching

infection and disease symptoms on coast redwood seedlings."

Phew! That’s a lot of busy graduate students, and how time flies! Spring term is here, field seasons hastarted, and soon we students who are attending meetings this summer. The GSA continues to serve an important role in the professional development of the department’s graduate students by facilitating social networking wcolleagues, funding travel to scientific conferences, and providing leadership experience in planning and organizing activities. Thank you to everyone who has participated in GSA activities this year for helpinto make it a successful year for the graduate students and the entire department.

by the GSA Officer

RECENT THESIS TITLES Anne Halgren (PhD with Bob Cvirus associate with black raspberry de Rachael Andrie (PhD with Lynda Ciuffetti) Eplay in fungal-plant interactions. Angel Saavedra (MS with EvereSchrysophylla) to Phytophthora cambivora. Desiree Johnson (MS with Joey SpataforaS Susan Crow (PhD with Kate Lajtha) Cforest soils. John SyringPspeciation in Pinus with an emaphasis subgenus Strobus.

ochaparral communities of southwestern Oregon. Matthew Blakeley Smith (MS with Tom Kaye) Pfollowing herbicide exposure. Emily Holt (PhD with Bruce MCrelation to succession, grazing and the environment. Lora Perkins (MStanitrogen and Bromus tectorum biomass. Jennifer Krenz (MS with Chris Mundt) Sresistance to Mycosphaerella graminico

A

or.

Dr. Walter Mahafee was promoted to Associate Pro Dr. Mark Patterson was promoted to Assistant Professor Viola Manning was promoted to Senior Faculty Research A

Dr. Mark Patterson received the Loyd Carter Award for Excellence in

Dr. Stella Melugin Coakley was awarded Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society

Dr. Kenton Chambers received the Botanical Society of America Centennial Award 13

Dr. James Carrington received the UC-Riverside Honored Alumni Award

Dr. Kenneth Johnson, jointly with Dr. Carol Mallory-Smith and Dr. Sujaya Rao (both of Crop and Soil Science), received the L.L. Stewart Faculty Scholars Award which recognizes outstanding faculty and

ther Lintz, graduate student with Mary Ken rk Wilson, received the Pielou Award from e Statistical Ecology Section of the Ecological Societ , at the 2006 meeting in Memphis

rs Graduate Student Travel Awards were presented to Brad Collins and

was awarded to

.

an and laine Daggett.

s awarded to Shannon Williamson

and Nicole Marshall

OCIETY OF AMERICA

enton Chambers, Emeritus Professor, was one of 100 members of the otanical Society of America honored with a Centennial Award in honor of

a

provides resources to stimulate creative advancements in teaching, research, and extended education.

Students Hea tula and Ma

y of Americathfor her oral presentation “Threshold strength and ‘diagonality’; response descriptors for comparison of empirical model types”. The 2007 Anita Summe

unny Lucas. S The 2007 Larry Moore Award for Graduate Education in Plant Pathology was presented to Sierra

artney H The 2007 Katherine R. Pamplin Scholarship from the Portland Garden Club Tri Tran. The 2007 Hardman Foundation Award for Native Plant Research was awarded to Elizabeth Martin. The 2007 Bonnie C. Templeton Award for Plant Systematics Research was awarded to Brian Knaus The 2007 Moldenke Fund for Plant Systematics Travel was awarded to Stephen Meyers. The 2007 Thomas C. Moore Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Thomas “Wade” Holm

E The 2006 Ernest and Pauline Jaworski Summer Scholarship for Underserved Undergraduates in

lant Science waP The 2007 Ernest and Pauline Jaworski Summer Scholarship for Underserved Undergraduates in

lant Science was awarded to Brooke PeterschmidtP The 2006 Leslie and Vera Gottlieb Research Fund in Evolutionary Biology was awarded to Ann

illyard. W PROFESSOR EMERITUS RECEIVES CENTENNIAL AWARD FROM THE BOTANICAL S

KBoutstanding service to the plant sciences and the Society. The Society marked its 100th anniversary in 2006 and presented the awards at a special centennial reception in August at the “Botany 2006 Conference” at CaliforniState University, Chico. Over 850 papers and posters were given at the meetings and present BPP faculty and students were well represented. The theme of the meetings, “Looking to the Future, Conserving the Past” reflects the Society’s optimism for the future of botanical science, as well as pride in its past contributions to knowledge and its service to society.

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THE LESLIE AND VERA GOTTLIEB RESEARCH FUND IN PLANT EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

The Leslie and Vera Gottlieb Research Fund in Plant Evolutionary Biology was established in 2006 to provide funds to graduate students to support both laboratory and field research in the evolutionary biology of plants native to western North America. This is a broad field that includes evolutionary and population genetics, systematics and phylogenetic studies, comparative analyses of development, and physiological and biochemical studies of plant adaptations.

The Research Fund will help many grad students initiate their own careein science as well as providing new information and new ideas about plant evolution. We are pleased to announce that Ann Willyard, gstudent with Aaron Liston, was the recipient of the first award from the new fund.

rs

raduate

Stephanomeria malheurensis, a Federally listed endangered species known from a single locality in Harney County, Oregon. Discovered by

Professor Gottlieb in 1966, he studied the species intensively because it is one of the very few examples of the recent natural origin of a plant species.

Following a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1957, Dr. Leslie David Gottlieb's career began at Oregon State University in the Botany and Plant Pathology Department. He earned a Master's degree in December 1965 with major professor Dr. Kenton Chambers and wrote a thesis on hybridization between species of manzanita in southwestern Oregon . It was in Corvallis that he first learned about plants and how to identify and investigate significant questions in evolutionary biology. His PhD at the University of Michigan in 1969 examined patterns of diversity and mechanisms of speciation in Stephanomeria.

He then joined the faculty of the Department of Genetics (Section of Evolution and Ecology) at the University of California, Davis where he taught classes in genetics and evolutionary biology, and served as department chair for three years during the mid-1980s. Dr. Gottlieb researched a broad array of subjects including plant speciation, polyploidy, biochemical evolution of isozymes, molecular genetics, and the application of biochemical and molecular data to plant systematics. Many of his studies dealt with rare and endangered species, particularly in the genera Clarkia and Stephanomeria.

Dr. Gottlieb published more than 120 research papers and received a number of awards including a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (1975), and Fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1985). In 1993 he was named Alumni Association Fellow of Oregon State University.

The Botanical Society of America awarded its Merit Award, its highest honor, for the year 2000, to Dr. Gottlieb. An announcement in Plant Science Bulletin, the society's newsletter, described Gottlieb as: "one of the most influential plant evolutionary biologists over the past several decades." Award committee chair, University of Wisconsin genetics professor John Doebley, cited three of Gottlieb's publications as classics, including a 1984 article in American Naturalist called "one of the most important papers in plant evolutionary biology during the past half century." In 2006, he received a Centennial Award from the Botanical Society of America.

His wife, Vera, was granted the Ph.D in Botany from the University of California (Davis). She and Leslie have collaborated on many research projects and have published numerous papers together.

After retiring from UC-Davis in 2004, Leslie and Vera now make their home in southern Oregon. 15

THANK YOU DONORS The following individuals and organizations generously supported the Department with donations received between 4/12/2006 and 3/20/2007. Those who wish to remain confidential are not listed. Ajay North America Edward Alverson and Angela Ruzicka Michael C. Amspoker James and Deanna Anderson Donald Armstrong and Mary Kentula Daniel and Wanda Arp Daviud and Catherine Askren Gerald M. Baker Wilbur and Mary Bluhm Egon and Diana Bodtker Richard Brainerd and Manuela Huso Martha Brooks Charles and Patti Buffett Kay Butler Steven Cantor George and Fanny Carroll Kenton and Henrietta Chambers Nancy J. Chapman James and Stella Coakley Donald Arthur Cooksey Ronald and Patty Coolbaugh Malcolm and Josephine Corden Marti F. Crane DeeAnn M. Curtis Stephen J. Danko Ira W. Deep Lisa K. DeMarest Julie A. DiLeone David Dobak Janet D. Dorow DuPont Company Joseph and Rose Elson James and Nancy Estes Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Edwin and Gilan Florance John Fowler and Margit Foss Robert and Elizabeth Frenkel Friedman Family Limited Partnership Peter Goldblatt Leslie and Vera Gottlieb Glenn and Barbara Halliday Richard R. Halse David and Idell Hansen Everett M. Hansen Gary and Barbara Harman August A. De Hertogh Michael T. Holmes Holmes Enviro LLC

Deven Holmgren and Eleanor Vandergrift Patricia W. Hook Charles and Mary Hough Russell and Elaine Ingham IBM Institute for Applied Ecology Kenneth and Susan Johnson Deneb Karentz Jill A. Kellogg Burton and Carol Koch Georges Liferman and Marilyn Miller Virginia H. Link Aaron and Sara Liston Cynthia D. Lord John L. Maas Charlie and Kathryn Martinson Kara Lyn Mayer Cheryl L. Mayrsohn Dustin and Melanie McClellan Cyrus and Betty McKell Brie Anne McKernan Craig and Joanne McMicken Kathryn J. Merrifield Merrill Family Foundation Inc James and Deborah Metz Dallice and Mary Mills Arvida D. Moore Native Plant Society of Oregon NatureServe Duroy A. Navarre Garry A. Neil Dennis and Diane Odion Nicholas J. Otting Edith Parker John and Patricia Pembrook Thomas G. Pfleeger Robert and Carol Pietruszka John N. Pinkerton Portland Garden Club Jay W. Pscheidt Torrance C. Raymond Minocher and Cleo Reporter Douglas and Arlene Ripley Freeman Rowe Andrea M. Ruchty Rosalie Rust Peter E. Ryan

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Paul and Melinda Sawyer Loyd and Margaret Schaad W. T. and Dorothy Schattenkerk Denise M. Seliskar Charlene M. Simpson Lloyd and Dianne Simpson James P. Smith, Jr Gerald E. Snow Gordon and Winifred Snow Martin and Daffodil Stein Robert E. Stutz Anita S. Summers Norman and Donna Sundberg Barbara J. Taylor Tektronix Foundation Dorothy H. Terry Bruce and Margaret Thomson Janet M. Throop Michael P. Tomich Elaine Urban

Randall and Mary Lou Waldron Michael and Laura Walter Washington State Potato Commission Kenneth A. Weber Nancy S. Weber George and Joan Weir Charles M. Weis Virginia Weis Barbara L. Wilson Christina M. Wistrom Douglas R. Woodfill Dave and Rebecca Wood Barry and Ella May Wulff Stanford A. Young Walter A. Yungen Desiderio and Karen Zamudio Donald and Priscilla Zobel

ALUMNI NEWS Randall C. Rowe (PhD 1973) has retired as Professor and Chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at Ohio State University on June 30, 2006. He will begin a term as American Phytopathological Society Treasurer. Dr. Rowe’s major professor was Dr. Robert Powelson and his thesis was entitled “Initiation and spread of foot rot of wheat caused by Cercosporella herpotrichoides Fron. “

Dilantha Fernando (PhD 1990) who is professor of plant pathology at The University of Manitoba in Canada is the recipient of the highly competitive

anitobExcellence iGraduTeaching Award giveby the 3200 member strong Graduate Students AssociatioThis awgiven to on

academic member in recognition of his commitment to excellence in mentoring students in research and teaching. This is the firsttime a plant science professor at University of

Manitoba has won this award since the award’s inception in 1974.

In 2006, Dilantha also received an award from United States Department of Agriculture, Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center, for outstanding service to the US National Sclerotinia Research Initiative in support of continued development of management strategies to control white mold in multiple crops. In 2005, Dilantha was awarded the University of Manitoba Merit Award recognizing his contributions to excellence in research and service, and he also received an Honorary Professorship in 2005 from China for his contributions to Chinese agriculture in Inner Mongolia. and prestigious 2006 University of M a

n ate

n

n.. ard is

e

graduate

Dilantha’s lab is well known for its significant discoveries of new pathogens in Canada; in establishing phyllosphere biological control methods; molecular approaches to understanding the epidemiology and diversity in pathogen populations; and developing several canola varieties (world’s healthiest oil) with disease resistance that have helped shape the future of Canadian agriculture and its economy. Recently, he and UM canola breeders registered the World’s first Roundup Ready High Erucic Acid Rapeseed cultivars for industrial purposes to be used as lubricants, hydraulic fluids and making of plastics where high heat stability is required.

17

At the present time, Dilantha mentors 5 PhD students, 3 Masters, 4 post docs, and 4 undergraduate research assistants in his lab. Dilantha sits on the boards of several national and international scientific organizations, and is the Workshops Chair of the Scientific Programs Board of the American Phytopathology Society (APS) in the USA, and Treasurer of the Canadian Phytopathology Society (CPS).

Dilantha received his PhD in Plant Pathology under the direction of Dr. Bob Linderman at Oregon State University, and his Masters in Microbiology from University of Kelaniya, and Bachelors degree in Botany from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Dilantha joined the University of Manitoba in Canada as an assistant professor in August 1998, and was promoted to associate professor in January 2002 and to full professor in March 2006.

Judith Jernstedt (BS 1973) now Professor of Agronomy and Range Science at UC Davis, received a Centennial Award from the Botanical Society of America, established for the centennial meeting in 2006 to acknowledge and

honor outstanding service to the plant sciences and the Society. She is the current Editor-in–Chief of The American Journal of Botany.

Thomas Michaels (PhD 1983) plant pathologist, pianist and scrabble tournament competitor has an hazelnut orchard in Chuckey Tennessee, spouted from seed which he inoculated with Tuber melanosporum, the Périgord black truffle, seven

years ago. Dr. Michaels grew up on a mushroom farm west of Chicago and had written his thesis on the difficulty of the in-vitro cultivation and growth of T. melanosporum with major professor Dr. James M. Trappe.

Recently, he discovered patches of truffles beneath the trees, and Manhattan chef Daniel Boulud’s confirmed the grower’s suspicion.

To grow truffles is to govern an intricate culture of plant and fungus life, as well as environmental conditions, not all of which are known and most of which are hidden underground.

Tending a truffle orchard is as much of an art as it is a science and it is, most of all, an act of faith — it typically takes 6 to 12 years for the fungi to form truffles in the earth.

According to James M. Trappe, a professor emeritus of mycology at Oregon State University, there are about 60 species of true truffles, the subterranean fungi that attach to a plant’s roots and issue long tendrils that gather nutrition for the plant and use the carbohydrates that the plant returns to eventually form the “fruit” we call truffles — but only a dozen are prized in the kitchen.

Dr. Michaels is the first domestic truffle farmer to produce commercial quantities of truffles of a quality that commands top dollar ($50 an ounce, $800 a pound). (from New York Times, February 28, 2007) Stephen C. Sillett (PhD 1996) now Professor of Botany at Humboldt State University who studies the redwood forest canopy, climbed the world’s tallest tree in a remote stretch of the Redwood National Park, CA. Hyperion, a coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens discovered by naturalists Chris K. Atkins and Michael Taylor, was determined by Sillett to be 379.1 feet tall. Sillett completed his PhD with major professor Dr. Bruce McCune. (The New Yorker, October 9, 2006)

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SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR ENDOWMENTS The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology is fortunate in the support it receives from alumni, friends, and other organizations. Through the OSU Foundation, we have established named funds and endowments in honor, or, in memory, of friends, alumni, and faculty. The growth of these funds enables us to enhance support for our students and programs.

Botany and Plant Pathology Endowment Fund in Honor and Memory of Alumni and Friends holds smaller endowments that have been established in memory of particular individuals so we can reach the minimum amount required for an individual fund (as required by the OSU Foundation) more rapidly and benefit from the potential earning power of these gifts. Once a particular fund reaches the endowment level it will be moved into a separate account. The Donald J. Armstrong Fund, Mary L. Powelson Fund, Donald B. Zobel Fund, Dallice I. Mills Seminar Fund, Mark T. Patterson Teaching Award Fund, James Sandeno Memorial Fund, Harry K. Phinney Memorial Fund, MacSwan Memorial Fund, F. McWhorter Memorial Fund and the E. Otto Memorial Fund are all held within this larger fund. Awards are periodically made in the individual's name for the purpose associated with the original gift.

Charles and Helen Fulton Memorial Endowment provides scholarships for botany majors and undergraduate research projects in botany.

Leslie and Vera Gottlieb Research Fund in Plant Evolutionary Biology provides funds to graduate students to support both laboratory and field research in the evolutionary biology of plants native to western North America: including evolutionary and population genetics, systematics and phylogenetic studies, comparative analyses of development, and physiological and biochemical studies of plant adaptations.

Bonnie Hall Student Activity Fund supports group activities for undergraduate and graduate students.

Hardman Award for Native Plant Research supports graduate student research concerning the native plants of Oregon.

The Ernest and Pauline Jaworski Fund for Summer Research Experiences for Underserved Undergraduates in Plant Science is offered for undergraduate research during summer term. The goal of this program is to increase the level of diversity among students who enter Ph.D. programs to pursue careers in university teaching and research by providing research opportunities to undergraduates that have been underserved.

Bill and LaRea Johnston Endowment supports undergraduate education and is used either to directly support students or their research efforts, or teaching activities on behalf of these students. The Outstanding Senior Award is also made possible by this endowment.

Moldenke Fund for Plant Systematics supports graduate student travel to herbaria to study preserved plants, and travel to field sites to collect specimens for plant systematics research.

Larry Moore Award for Graduate Education in Plant Pathology supports graduate student education in plant pathology.

Thomas C. Moore Memorial Scholarship assists undergraduate students in botany and plant pathology.

Portland Garden Club Katherine R. Pamplin Fellowships are offered for research in aspects of native plant biology, rare and endangered plant conservation and environmental effects on native plants.

Jean Siddall Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate students studying rare and endangered plants.

Anita Summers Graduate Student Travel Fund supports travel of graduate students within the area of Botany and Plant Pathology for attendance at professional meetings where the recipient has a specific responsibility such as presenting a poster or paper, or participating in a discussion as an invited participant.

The Dr. Bonnie C. Templeton Endowment supports graduate student research in systematics.

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Department of Botany and Plant Pathology 2082 Cordley Hall Corvallis, OR 97331-2902 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Thanks are due to Sue Jepson for collecting the information, layout, editing and handling the mailing list; Dianne Simpson for proof reading; Tom Allen for the logo and Ken Chambers for the name.

CONTRIBUTIONS may be sent to The Oregon State University Foundation, 850 SW 35th Street,

Corvallis, OR 97333 I’m making a gift of $________ to Botany and Plant Pathology and would like to direct it to the following: [ ] Where need is greatest [ ] Student support (research and travel) [ ] Bonnie B. Hall Student Activity Fund [ ] Bill and LaRea Johnston Fund for Undergraduate Education [ ] Oregon Flora Endowment [ ] Bonnie C. Templeton Endowment Fund [ ] Larry Moore Endowment Fund [ ] Thomas C. Moore Memorial Endowment [ ] Posies and Pathogens Newsletter [ ] Anita Summers Graduate Student Travel Fund [ ] Leslie and Vera Gottlieb Research Fund in Plant Evolutionary Biology [ ] Botany and Plant Pathology Endowment in Honor and Memory of Alumni and Friends in name

of___________________ Name_____________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

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